Thank God I like Football more than Basketball

[NewEra]

On 11/25/2020 at 9:02 AM, badassgixxer05 said:

Ive never really watch pro basketball mainly because we don't have a pro team. I watched a ton of Bulls basketball in the 90s of course because of Jordan, but that was about it. Not a soccer fan, and not a baseball fan. I think again because of the not having a local team thing in Buffalo. Although i havent watched the sabres in years either, but mainly i think cuz they have been so terrible and they took most of hitting out of hockey which was the best part.

If you watched the Bulls because of Jordan, you should’ve been been watching Lebron for the last 18 years.  Can’t stand the guy....but he’s just as special. Sadly 

On 11/25/2020 at 10:05 AM, Marv Levy said:

Yeah, hockey is slow and boring. The high speed end to end rushes on skate blades while firing a puck 100+ MPH and hard body checks doesn't excite me at all. But basketball is intense with tons of Fouls, Freethrows and Time-outs! Give me a break!! 🙄

The scoring in hockey is slow.  Fast pace and lots of back and forth with no goals.  I enjoy both, but I see why those don’t enjoy hockey.  When I try and put the sabre games on with my wife in the room, I’ll ask her to watch a bit of it and give it a try.  She has trouble following the puck

[thenorthremembers]

My oldest daughter started watching the Portland Trailblazers last year, so I ended up watching quite a few games with her.   In my mind the 2010 Heat killed basketball as they made it more about the player than the team.   I am not sure how the NBA expects fans to be loyal to a team when the stars are constantly changing teams, and the parity is so low.    Long story short, I cant devote my time to a game that allows players to carry the ball half way down the court or a game that is essentially a glorified three point contest.

 

 

[NewEra]

4 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

My oldest daughter started watching the Portland Trailblazers last year, so I ended up watching quite a few games with her.   In my mind the 2010 Heat killed basketball as they made it more about the player than the team.   I am not sure how the NBA expects fans to be loyal to a team when the stars are constantly changing teams, and the parity is so low.    Long story short, I cant devote my time to a game that allows players to carry the ball half way down the court or a game that is essentially a glorified three point contest.

 

 

That’s really the biggest problem. Buffalo had just lost its team when I started getting into the nba, so I rooted for UNC (loved their uniforms) and their alums Mcadoo (also buffalos best) and james worthy with the lakers.  They were my team til worthy retired.  Luckily, they drafted kobe a couple years later, so I didn’t have to jump ship.  I had a great product and player to root for.  My two favorite played their entire careers with the lakers.  As Kobe’s career was coming to an end, I followed my college guy, Harrison Barnes with the Warriors. Had some fun years watching that team, but when KD replaced him and he signed with dallas, I became a Mavs fan....then they drafted Luka and he became my favorite player. 
 

it’s a players league. There are many hardcore fans of teams, but the NBA markets their stars.  It seems that 1/3 of the nba fans today are LeBron fans.  Wherever he goes, his fans follow.  Like jordan captivated my youth and Kobe my early adulthood, LeBron is doing the same with today’s youth.  
 

To go back to the bolded in your post, while fans might have a tough time sticking to individual teams in today’s nba, they can always be a fan of their favorite players.  

[Bing Bong]

On 11/25/2020 at 5:54 AM, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Yeah except the skill level is lower across the board - The pro game is played above the rim, the college game is back and forth passing at the top of the key waiting for a contested 3, holding onto the ball for over 30 seconds a possession.

 

The NBA skill level is higher when it comes to dribbling, driving into the paint, kicking for the open-3, the passing/screens are more efficient.
 

I’ve always enjoyed watching elite athletes play in the NBA, verses the frantic, under the rim game of College.

 

 

Absolutely. I know it's a personal preference but I can't imagine preferring college basketball.. I'd be saying I like bad basketball.

 

Could be cause I like Syracuse.. and their zone calls for some ugly low score games. The fact that NBA teams can shoot their way out of zones while I'm watching Syracuse and the opposing team constantly bricking it settles the debate for me. 

 

As far as contracts, for me NBA is fun. I don't need to understand everything possible for a team's cap moves. But I like that it's so flexible leading to so much midseason and off-season blockbuster trades.

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, FormerlyPT5P said:

Absolutely. I know it's a personal preference but I can't imagine preferring college basketball.. I'd be saying I like bad basketball.

 

Could be cause I like Syracuse.. and their zone calls for some ugly low score games. The fact that NBA teams can shoot their way out of zones while I'm watching Syracuse and the opposing team constantly bricking it settles the debate for me. 

 

As far as contracts, for me NBA is fun. I don't need to understand everything possible for a team's cap moves. But I like that it's so flexible leading to so much midseason and off-season blockbuster trades.

Well said.  Can’t stand watching SU and Virginia.  I respect the D that they play, but it’s a tough watch because of it.  They make the offense work hard for sure.  
 

teams need to attack the SU zone with a high/low.  Give a big that can shoot the mid range jumper the ball at the fouls line.  Shoot it if he’s open.  If the D pops out, quick post pass to a 1 on 1 in the post.  

[LabattBlue]

I gave up on the NBA 10 years ago or so(and even then I was just a casual fan).  I still loved NCAA BB, but the “one and done” got so out of control that I never watch regular season now, and my interest in March Madness has gone from must-see TV to maybe watch if there is a close game or interesting team/story line. 

Edited February 18, 2021 by BTB

[Bing Bong]

On 11/25/2020 at 9:49 AM, BITE ME said:

Professional basketball is a dying sport in the United States. That is why they are so invested in China. While COVID was responsibly for some of it, the NBA finals ratings were awful and that was with LA and Miami.  It will be hockey by 2030.

 

Football will dominate and soccer will rise and become the second most popular sport in America by 2030.

Lol, NBA has been the fastest growing professional league over the last 10 years. 

 

Obviously ratings are going to be down when the finals are played through week 1 or 2 of the NFL season, during Sunday Night Football.

On 11/25/2020 at 12:03 PM, BITE ME said:

Data does not lie. 

No it doesn't 🤔

Edited February 18, 2021 by FormerlyPT5P

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, FormerlyPT5P said:

Lol, NBA has been the fastest growing professional league over the last 10 years. 

 

Obviously ratings are going to be down when the finals are played through week 1 or 2 of the NFL season, during Sunday Night Football.

Especially when the huge underdog in the finals was missing their 2nd and 4th best players.  Shouldn’t be the case this year.  I can’t stand Kyrie, but I hope to see Brooklyn represent the east this year.  Brooklyn vs Utah, Lakers or a healthy Clippers would be entertaining.  Much more so than last seasons finals 🤮 

[Bing Bong]

7 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Especially when the huge underdog in the finals was missing their 2nd and 4th best players.  Shouldn’t be the case this year.  I can’t stand Kyrie, but I hope to see Brooklyn represent the east this year.  Brooklyn vs Utah, Lakers or a healthy Clippers would be entertaining.  Much more so than last seasons finals 🤮 

I don't like them either, but Nets would certainly be very entertaining. I'm sure the NBA would have loved a Celtics Lakers matchup last year.

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, FormerlyPT5P said:

I don't like them either, but Nets would certainly be very entertaining. I'm sure the NBA would have loved a Celtics Lakers matchup last year.

For sure.  That’s what I was hoping for.  Much respect to jimmy butler, but that Miami team didn’t stand a chance even if they were healthy imo 

[US Egg]

Thank God I like Football more than Basketball'

 

.....me too. I could shoot free throws but could never dunk. 

 

I could chuck a football. But I am not a chucker.

[BillsShredder83]

Its pretty easy to live in Buffalo and view NBA as a dying entity, but since i moved near Charlotte, its really reignited my childhood love for the game that i lost for 20years.  I never had an NBA team before, and im like a kid on Xmas when the Hornets are on.  Itll never come anywhere near the level of football for me, but its been nice to have something help me curb my NFL offseason blues.  Smaller teams makes it easier to jump into a league you dont know and have a sense of whats going on.  Thats proli the biggest reason that my friends who never got into football have for not watching.... 52 dudes x32teams, and the most complex strategy sport isnt exactly new user friendly...

GO HORNETS!

[hjnick]

On 11/25/2020 at 7:43 AM, SoCal Deek said:

The three point line ruined NBA basketball for me. In a world of analytics they figured out that you get a better return on investment by simply having four guys stand around the perimeter, pass the ball around until somebody is open...and chuck it! The scoring percentages work out in your favor so long as you have somewhat decent accuracy. It’s killed rebounding, eliminated the Center position, and made the sport virtually unwatchable for me.

Totally agree.  The NBA is just a 3 point shooting contest now... BORING.

[MJS]

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

If you watched the Bulls because of Jordan, you should’ve been been watching Lebron for the last 18 years.  Can’t stand the guy....but he’s just as special. Sadly 

I don't think Lebron James has the same presence that Jordan had. And I think Jordan was a little more likable than Lebron too. So ultimately I do think he had a larger, more varied audience willing to watch him.

 

So while they may be similar as far as talent and dominance, I think it was easier for people to watch Jordan. And, maybe the NBA as a whole was a little easier to watch back then versus now. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like players change teams a lot more often today, even some of the greatest players. Jordan played the majority of his career with one team.

[NewEra]

2 minutes ago, MJS said:

I don't think Lebron James has the same presence that Jordan had. And I think Jordan was a little more likable than Lebron too. So ultimately I do think he had a larger, more varied audience willing to watch him.

 

So while they may be similar as far as talent and dominance, I think it was easier for people to watch Jordan. And, maybe the NBA as a whole was a little easier to watch back then versus now. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like players change teams a lot more often today, even some of the greatest players. Jordan played the majority of his career with one team.

For sure.  Jordan worked very hard to build a perception of himself and was very successful in doing so.  He was one of the first to build himself into an entire brand.  If Jordan was trying to build that perception in today’s world, he would’ve failed, based on who he really is as a person.  The worlds microscope sees all today. It saw very little back then.  
 

I’ve met both guys several times. Both were complete ***holes to me in almost every instance.  I’d put Jordan ahead of LeBron in terms of being the bigger ***hole.  Kobe on the other hand.....didn’t disappoint.  Always a class act in each of my interactions with him.  

[HOUSE]

MONEY MAKES ME CRAZY 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

On 11/25/2020 at 1:18 AM, Big Turk said:

 

And how would you stop it? I guess any foul deemed to be intentional could result in 2 free throws AND possession for the team who was fouled. 

 

But I mean how is this really any different than the NFL having players do kneel downs to end the game?  

 

I get that one is to prevent the other team from winning and the other is done to win but both similarly take away from the way the majority of the game is played.

Kneel downs don’t stretch the last 90 seconds into 20 minutes. 

[Albany,n.y.]

50 years ago I was a much bigger basketball fan than a football fan.  During the 71-72 season I saw every team play at least once in both the NBA, mostly Braves games in the Aud & ABA, mostly Nets games in Nassau County.  I went to the Braves games while in Fredonia & then I'd go home for semester breaks in South Hempstead.  I saw games in Toronto (ABA doubleheader), Madison Square Garden, and the strangest place I ever saw a pro basketball game Uniontown Pa high school.  The reason I went to Uniontown was the only team that was missing was the Utah Stars.  They had a game scheduled in Pittsburgh & I figured t was the closest place to see Utah.  So I drove down to Pittsburgh & when I got to the Civic Arena I was told the game was moved to Uniontown.  I had to drive another 40 miles or so & got to the high school pretty early.  I ended up sitting with some of the Pittsburgh Condors players while the preliminary high school game was being played.  I remember talking with Dave "Big Daddy" Lattin & I told him I'd be going to the Condors at Nets game during my semester break.  I ended up seeing him in the parking lot as the team bus unloaded at the Nassau Coliseum for the Nets game & I said "Remember Uniontown"  He then offered me a ticket but I already had one so I thanked him & we went our separate ways. 

 

I didn't go to my 1st NFL game until 1973 when Rich Stadium opened.  I eventually followed the NFL more than the NBA (post ABA merger) mainly because the Braves left Buffalo for San Diego & the Nets left LI for New Jersey.   

[MrSarcasm]

Basketball guarantees small market teams cannot do well unless they hit the lottery and draft a generational player-even then that generational player leaves for the bigger market when given the chance.

Basketball sucks.

[Chicken Boo]

On 11/25/2020 at 8:43 AM, SoCal Deek said:

The three point line ruined NBA basketball for me. In a world of analytics they figured out that you get a better return on investment by simply having four guys stand around the perimeter, pass the ball around until somebody is open...and chuck it! The scoring percentages work out in your favor so long as you have somewhat decent accuracy. It’s killed rebounding, eliminated the Center position, and made the sport virtually unwatchable for me.

 

A lack of talented big men eliminated the center position, but it's coming back around.

[The Frankish Reich]

1 hour ago, hjnick said:

Totally agree.  The NBA is just a 3 point shooting contest now... BORING.

It can be. In my NBA fan life we've gone from the showtime fast break game of the 80s Lakers to the beat 'em up and grind it out Pistons to the clear it out and let the star operate of the 90s Bulls to the kick it out and kill 'em with 3s of the 2010s Warriors and beyond. The pendulum needs to swing back a bit.

Don't get me wrong ... it still impresses the hell out of me to watch Lillard and Curry heave up and make 35 footers on purpose that would have previously been viewed as desperation shots. But I'd like to see a little more of the old physicality, a little more of the one-on-one game from 2-point range, etc.

But for those of you who gave up on the NBA last year, let me assure you: you missed one hell of a playoffs in the bubble, right up until the finals (which really weren't competitive). Some of this is the old East Coast Bias thing as most of the best basketball was being played in the Western Conference. But trust me: there were some thrilling series with some brilliant basketball being played. It was in a way Peak NBA from about the second week of the bubble onward. I don't know if we'll see the same thing this year. Last year teams were rested and in peak condition and it showed.

[MiltonWaddams]

3 hours ago, thenorthremembers said:

My oldest daughter started watching the Portland Trailblazers last year, so I ended up watching quite a few games with her.   In my mind the 2010 Heat killed basketball as they made it more about the player than the team.   I am not sure how the NBA expects fans to be loyal to a team when the stars are constantly changing teams, and the parity is so low.    Long story short, I cant devote my time to a game that allows players to carry the ball half way down the court or a game that is essentially a glorified three point contest.

 

 

Your oldest daughter decided to follow a great team to watch at least. Damian Lillard is so much fun to watch play that game.

I played both basketball and football, so my appreciation for both is very high. I follow them both immensely. I have definitely become a much larger football fan over the years for the pro game. However, I still enjoy watching basketball and appreciate the incredible athleticism that is on display in every game.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

On 11/24/2020 at 10:09 PM, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

There's enough discussion, debate argument every year here about Free agency and how much money available to sign a certain play, what the cap is, dead cap and debate on some of the rules.

 

But imagine if this were all about basketball?  We'd be arguing about how to make the salaries match up, luxury tax, two way contracts, mid level exceptions, The Bird Rule exception, non Bird exception, rookie exception, bi annual exception, traded player exception, supermax contract, who's eligible for the supermax, 5/30% vs 5/25% contracts, Cap holds, Over 38 rule, sign and trades, and much more.

 

Would there even be any time left to talk about actual play in games?

 I am a big bball fan, but never took the time to understand the CBA and all these contracts and exemptions. If you don't understand that stuff, it makes the NBA trades to be totally mind boggling. I remember for years that Brendan Haywood was like the most valuable player in the NBA because everyone wanted his contract--it was pretty bizarre and funny.

 

 

[C.Biscuit97]

1 hour ago, MrSarcasm said:

Basketball guarantees small market teams cannot do well unless they hit the lottery and draft a generational player-even then that generational player leaves for the bigger market when given the chance.

Basketball sucks.

The Utah Jazz have the best record in the nba. 

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

Basketball in the 80s - 00 was fun to watch but now it is unwatchable. I’m glad Buffalo just has my two favorite sports, NFL and NHL. For Baseball I root for the Cubs and Blue Jays but it’s hard to watch a full baseball game. Soccer is only growing on me because my son plays it and I’ve been getting into it recently. I only watch Tennis to see how Jesica Pegula is doing. 

[C.Biscuit97]

7 minutes ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

Basketball in the 80s - 00 was fun to watch but now it is unwatchable. I’m glad Buffalo just has my two favorite sports, NFL and NHL. For Baseball I root for the Cubs and Blue Jays but it’s hard to watch a full baseball game. Soccer is only growing on me because my son plays it and I’ve been getting into it recently. I only watch Tennis to see how Jesica Pegula is doing. 

NBA playoff basketball is very good.

[JMF2006]

Not to hard to follow all that when they have 10 or 11 guys on a team  

 

I remember trying to play in a church league when I was 10/11 yrs old.

 

I always got caught for double dribbling or travelling  

 

I was better at hockey so I just played horse in the park court 

 

 

[MrSarcasm]

12 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

The Utah Jazz have the best record in the nba. 

Yep and that has led to how many championships? The NBA is the epitome of- team has great regular season- team is out of the playoffs 1st round.

Edited February 18, 2021 by MrSarcasm

[C.Biscuit97]

1 minute ago, MrSarcasm said:

Yep and that has led to how many championships? 

I don’t get this point. How many championships has Buffalo won? Or Cleveland? 
 

I do think it’s harder to keep your stars in basketball but I was pointing out that the smallest market had the best record. Portland and Milwaukee are also really good teams. 

[MrSarcasm]

4 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

I don’t get this point. How many championships has Buffalo won? Or Cleveland? 
 

I do think it’s harder to keep your stars in basketball but I was pointing out that the smallest market had the best record. Portland and Milwaukee are also really good teams. 

When was the last time a bottom 10 market team won in the NBA? 1971 Milwaukee Bucks. Now compare to the NFL where the Packers did it in 2010 and the Chiefs did it last year( are Chiefs small market?)

 

Their is no parody in the NBA- this is really not debatable.

Edited February 18, 2021 by MrSarcasm

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

2 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

NBA playoff basketball is very good.

After watching MJ play I guess anything would look bad once he’s gone. I guess I can relate it to being married to Scarlett Johansson and then being with Sarah Jessica Parker.
 

 

[C.Biscuit97]

1 hour ago, MrSarcasm said:

When was the last time a bottom 10 market team won in the NBA? 1971 Milwaukee Bucks. Now compare to the NFL where the Packers did it in 2010 and the Chiefs did it last year( are Chiefs small market?)

 

Their is no parody in the NBA- this is really not debatable.

The Cleveland cavs 4 years ago. Toronto is a big market but is a bottom nba market and won it 2 years ago. 

1 hour ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

After watching MJ play I guess anything would look bad once he’s gone. I guess I can relate it to being married to Scarlett Johansson and then being with Sarah Jessica Parker.
 

 

Honestly, as great as Jordan was and how tough the league was back then, it was kinda awful basketball. I do agree the 3s of gotten out of control (and too many fouls) but basketball is a way smoother game now. 

[Nextmanup]

On 11/24/2020 at 10:09 PM, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

There's enough discussion, debate argument every year here about Free agency and how much money available to sign a certain play, what the cap is, dead cap and debate on some of the rules.

 

But imagine if this were all about basketball?  We'd be arguing about how to make the salaries match up, luxury tax, two way contracts, mid level exceptions, The Bird Rule exception, non Bird exception, rookie exception, bi annual exception, traded player exception, supermax contract, who's eligible for the supermax, 5/30% vs 5/25% contracts, Cap holds, Over 38 rule, sign and trades, and much more.

 

Would there even be any time left to talk about actual play in games?

There are a lot of modern sports fans who seem to thrive exclusively on this aspect of sports.

 

They enjoy playing the role of the GM, and seem to be quite knowledgeable on even the fine print in the CBA.

 

I never got that.  Nothing is further removed from the fun of watching a sporting competition than the legal drudgery of sorting out a CBA, and I'm an attorney! 

 

I come to sports entirely to leave stuff like that behind.

 

 

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

38 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

The Cleveland cavs 4 years ago. Toronto is a big market but is a bottom nba market and won it 2 years ago. 

Honestly, as great as Jordan was and how tough the league was back then, it was kinda awful basketball. I do agree the 3s of gotten out of control (and too many fouls) but basketball is a way smoother game now. 

I liked watching the big guys fighting for position in the paint and all the elbows and hand checking. All the crazy dunks and players were allowed to do crazy things. When the Bulls and Pistons played it was a brawl. Jordan would get absolutely pummeled in those games and they were so entertaining to watch. 
 

The few games that I have watched in the last few years is three pointer, foul, commercial, repeat. I just can’t watch it. 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

42 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

There are a lot of modern sports fans who seem to thrive exclusively on this aspect of sports.

 

They enjoy playing the role of the GM, and seem to be quite knowledgeable on even the fine print in the CBA.

 

I never got that.  Nothing is further removed from the fun of watching a sporting competition than the legal drudgery of sorting out a CBA, and I'm an attorney! 

 

I come to sports entirely to leave stuff like that behind.

 

 

 

I don't mind the GM role, but like to keep it simple, i.e. easily understand the Bills situation and who/what they can do to free up money.  But basketball seems to be in another universe.  There to play the GM role takes quite the education and/or time.

[without a drought]

On 11/25/2020 at 8:49 AM, teef said:

i thank god i like football more than jai alai.

Says no one.

 

 

 

 

 

[LabattBlue]

46 minutes ago, without a drought said:

Says no one.

 

 

 

 

 

5-6 years ago, I had an opportunity to see Jai Alai at a place not to far from Ft Lauderdale airport....maybe in Hollywood, FL?  It was a lot of fun, no charge to get in, you could bet on the games, and you could bring in your own food and drink as they were in the middle of a remodel at the time.

Edited February 18, 2021 by BTB

[The Frankish Reich]

7 hours ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

The Cleveland cavs 4 years ago. Toronto is a big market but is a bottom nba market and won it 2 years ago. 

Honestly, as great as Jordan was and how tough the league was back then, it was kinda awful basketball. I do agree the 3s of gotten out of control (and too many fouls) but basketball is a way smoother game now. 

You mean Cleveland isn't a top ten market? 😀 That sure didn't take a lot of research.

Look, the NBA can be frustrating ever since LeBron set the tone for "I'm moving on and finding my own Big 3 to play for someone else" thing. But there's a rough kind of parity in that the dominant teams change over the course of a year or three. Toronto a couple years ago. The Lakers were horrible before they got Anthony Davis; he may need achilles surgery before too long, and that may kill their chances again. Dallas, Denver, Portland - one of them may get hot and win it (I don't think Utah has the playoff juice). Will the crazy Nets Harden-Durant-Irving thing work? The Celtics looked solid, now, meh. Why can't Milwaukee get over the hump? It's a really good competitive league. The season is too long - last year showed us the gains in quality of play a shorter or interrupted season can bring. (No fan wants to pay a few hundred bucks a ticket to see a star player only to see that he's not playing due to "load management" - they ought to give a 50% refund or something.) But the league is healthy and popular, and as many have noticed, the NFL is heading in exactly the same direction where star players have the ultimate say in who they're playing for and who they're playing with.

[purple haze]

On 11/25/2020 at 10:03 AM, BITE ME said:

 

MLB and NBA ratings were in decline before Covid.  Now they are just cratering  The NFL is doing fine. Barely down 6 percent this year. It is a juggernaut.

 

MLB and the NBA have problems.  One is basically and old white person's sport. The other a young black person's sport.  Recipes for disaster. MLB has lost virtually all of it's young viewers and most of it's African American viewers.  Basketball is hemorrhaging  it's white viewers across all ages and Hispanics and Asians in the US have no real interest.

Soccer is growing and will continue to grow.  It has the perfect demographics for the future.
 

Data does not lie. Baseball and Basketball have to either grow overseas or they are heading towards hockey numbers.

Basketball is a global sport and there is a strong international presence at every level of the NBA.  They aren’t suffering for fans.  The young people who watch don’t necessarily do it on traditional television sets either.  Phones and computers have overtaken that.

[Buftex]

15 hours ago, The Frankish Reich said:

It can be. In my NBA fan life we've gone from the showtime fast break game of the 80s Lakers to the beat 'em up and grind it out Pistons to the clear it out and let the star operate of the 90s Bulls to the kick it out and kill 'em with 3s of the 2010s Warriors and beyond. The pendulum needs to swing back a bit.

Don't get me wrong ... it still impresses the hell out of me to watch Lillard and Curry heave up and make 35 footers on purpose that would have previously been viewed as desperation shots. But I'd like to see a little more of the old physicality, a little more of the one-on-one game from 2-point range, etc.

But for those of you who gave up on the NBA last year, let me assure you: you missed one hell of a playoffs in the bubble, right up until the finals (which really weren't competitive). Some of this is the old East Coast Bias thing as most of the best basketball was being played in the Western Conference. But trust me: there were some thrilling series with some brilliant basketball being played. It was in a way Peak NBA from about the second week of the bubble onward. I don't know if we'll see the same thing this year. Last year teams were rested and in peak condition and it showed.

I am an unapologetic NBA fan...but I am sort of with you on this.  What the Warriors did was amazing...but it lead to a lot of really horrible basketball in recent seasons.  Nobdy is afraid to take a 3 point shot anymore...and guys who are good shooters in general, just take bad shots too often.  I have seen my teams leading games comfortably, when all they have to do is take what the defense gives them (2ptrs.) and play a modicum of defense.  Instead, they start jacking up rediculous 3 point shots, missing them, and letting the other team back in the game.  It is incredibly frustrating to watch.  I know, old guy...I still enjoy the game, but i liked it so much more when each team had one or two "snipers" in their lineup. and 3 point shots were exciting.  Great, you made 5 threes in a row...but what about the 8 in a row you missed before that?